Calaveras County Municipal Code § 17.26.030 Planning commission

This Chapter lays out the basic roles, responsibilities, and functions of all planning authorities under this title, including the board of supervisors, planning commission, and planning director. When carrying out their assigned duties and responsibilities, all bodies, administrators, and officials shall interpret and apply the provisions of this title as minimum requirements adopted to implement the policies and achieve the objectives of the general plan.

The powers and responsibilities of the board of supervisors include, but are not limited to the following:

A. Consider and adopt, reject, or modify amendments to the official zoning map and the text of this title, following a public hearing and recommended action by the planning commission, pursuant to Chapter 17.38, Zoning Amendments.

B. Consider and adopt, reject, or modify amendments to the general plan, following a public hearing and recommended action by the Planning Commission, pursuant to Chapter 17.39, General Plan Amendments.

C. Consider and adopt, reject, or modify specific plans, following a public hearing and recommended action by the planning commission, pursuant to Chapter 17.40, Specific Plans.

D. Consider and adopt, reject, or modify development agreements, following a public hearing and recommended action by the planning commission, pursuant to Chapter 17.37, development agreements.

E. Hear and decide appeals from decisions of the planning commission pursuant to Section 17.27.140, Appeals.

F. Make environmental determinations on any approvals or actions within the board of supervisors jurisdiction that are subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act, pursuant to State law.

G. Establish a fee schedule listing fees, charges, and deposits for various applications and services provided, pursuant to this title.

The powers and responsibilities of the planning commission include, but are not limited to the following:

A. Annually review progress towards implementation of the general plan and make recommendations to the board of supervisors based on any new legislation, development trends, or changing economic, social, and environmental conditions.

B. Approve, modify, or deny conditional use permits and variances, pursuant to Chapter 17.31, conditional use permits, and Chapter 17.35, Variances.

C. Conduct design review for projects subject to design review by the planning commission pursuant to Chapter 17.29, Design Review.

D. Make recommendations to board of supervisors on proposed amendments to the official zoning map and the text of this title, pursuant to Chapter 17.38, Zoning Amendments.

E. Make recommendations to board of supervisors on proposed amendments to the general plan, pursuant to Chapter 17.39, General Plan Amendments.

F. Make recommendations to board of supervisors on proposed specific plans and amendments to specific plans, pursuant to Chapter 17.40, Specific Plans.

G. Make recommendations to the board of supervisors on development agreements, pursuant to Chapter 17.37, development agreements.

H. Hear and decide appeals from decisions of the planning director pursuant to Section 17.27.140, Appeals.

I. Hear and decide proposals to revoke permits, pursuant to Section 17.27.130, Revocation of Permits.

J. Make environmental determinations on any approvals within the planning commission's jurisdiction that are subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act, pursuant to State law.

K. Such other powers and responsibilities as assigned or directed by the board of supervisors.

The powers and responsibilities of the planning director ("the director"), or their designee, include, but are not limited to the following:

A. Perform all of the functions designated by state law, including, but not limited to the following:

1. Annual report related to implementation of the general plan in compliance with Government Code Section 65400;

2. Review of public works projects for conformity to the general plan in compliance with Government Code Section 65401; and

3. Review of acquisition of property for conformity to the general plan in compliance with Government Code Section 65402.

B. Maintain and administer the zoning code, including the processing of applications, abatements, and other enforcement actions.

C. Interpret the zoning code as needed for members of the public and other county departments, boards, and commissions.

D. Prepare rules and procedures necessary for conducting the director's business.

E. Issue administrative regulations for the submission and review of applications subject to the requirements of Government Code Section 65950, Deadlines for Project Approval Conformance; Extensions.

F. Issue a zoning clearance pursuant to Chapter 17.28, Zoning Clearance.

G. Approve, modify, or deny administrative use permits, pursuant to Chapter 17.30, administrative use permits.

H. Approve, modify, or deny temporary use permits, pursuant to Chapter 17.32, Temporary Use Permits.

I. Approve, modify, or deny a request for reasonable accommodation, pursuant to Chapter 17.33, Reasonable Accommodation.

J. Conduct design review for projects subject to design review by the director pursuant to Chapter 17.29, Design Review.

K. Approve, modify, or deny requests for extensions for land use projects, pursuant to Section 17.27.110, Effective Dates; Expiration and Extension.

L. Decide requests for minor revisions to approved permits, pursuant to Section 17.27.120, Revisions to an Approved Permit.

M. Refer items to the planning commission where, in the director's opinion, the public interest would be better served by a planning commission public hearing and action.

N. Determine whether a project is subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act and notify the applicant if any additional information is necessary to conduct the review.

O. Make recommendations to the planning commission and board of supervisors on all applications, appeals, and other matters upon which they have the authority and the responsibility to act under this title.

P. Investigate and report to the planning commission on permit violations when the county has initiated revocation procedures, pursuant to Section 17.27.130, Revocation of Permits.

Q. Delegate administrative functions to members of the planning department.

R. Such other powers and responsibilities as assigned or directed by the Board of Supervisors.

This table summarizes the powers and duties that each review authority (see Section 17.43.180) has under this title. Where a land use project requires more than one type of application, all permit requests shall be reviewed and decided on by the highest review authority established for any of the applications.

TABLE 17.26.050: SUMMARY OF REVIEW AUTHORITIES FOR DECISIONS AND APPEALS